Department for Transport

Transport and Leisure: Coronavirus

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessments they are undertaking to consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on future (1) working patterns, (2) transport use, and (3) leisure.

baroness vere of norbiton: The pandemic is having a profound impact on the lives of everyone in the country and the Government’s focus has been on managing the immediate situation. As part of this, the Government continues to monitor behaviour in terms of working patterns, transport use and social distancing measures, and will continue to do so as the situation develops in the coming weeks. Given the scale of this pandemic, it is likely that we will see some changes in the way people do things in the longer term and the Government is working to understand this. For example, to help understand future demand on transport, we are commissioning research to understand how the pandemic has impacted on people’s transport behaviours and the factors that will influence their behaviour as restrictions are lifted.

Aviation: Coronavirus

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with UK airline companies about ensuring refunds for customers whose travel arrangements were cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process the very large number of applications for refunds. The Government appreciates the distress and frustration consumers may be experiencing. The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.

British Airways: Finance

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with British Airways about their financial position; and when any such discussions took place. [T]

baroness vere of norbiton: The Department cannot comment on the commercial or financial matters of private companies. The Transport Secretary, Aviation Minister and Department officials are in regular contact with the aviation sector, ensuring that the Government is kept fully aware of the latest developments with all firms and to understand where additional policy measures could address specific industry issues.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Public Houses: Rents

baroness bowles of berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that pub owners who own three or less public houses with a total annual rental income of less than £100,000 are exempted from any plans to waive public house rentals during the COVID-19 pandemic; what plans they have to support such owners if their tenants are unable to pay rent during the pandemic; and what assessment they have made of whether it is compliant with the Human Rights Act 1998 to impose the suspension of rent without payment being deferred and without offering compensation.

lord callanan: The Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for the pub sector. The majority of landlords and tenants are working well together to reach agreements on debt obligations. While landlords are urged to give their tenants the breathing space needed, tenants that can afford to pay rent, or a proportion of it, are still expected to do so. The Government recognises that commercial landlords have their own obligations to meet. The Government is implementing temporary measures that were provided for in the Coronavirus Act 2020 to protect business tenants from forfeiture or re-entry on grounds of non-payment of rent. The Government will also introduce temporary measures to ban the use by commercial landlords of aggressive debt recovery tactics, as part of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill. These measures do not require landlords to waive rent. The Government is providing an unprecedented package of measures to help businesses during the current COIVD-19 outbreak, including loans, employee salary support and self-employed income support, which are available to commercial landlords.

Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the names of the members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies; and what assessment they have made of the impact of any such publication on public confidence in that group.

lord callanan: SAGE is not a membership body. Her Majesty's Government does not routinely publish the names of SAGE participants in line with advice from the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and standard procedure for COBR meetings, to which SAGE gives advice. For the COVID-19 response and to ensure transparency on who is contributing to the science advice being given to the Government, we have published the names of those who are happy to have their names published. The names that have been published are available on the SAGE page on GOV.UK.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bangladesh: Mobile Phones

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Bangladesh about (1) the mobile data ban imposed in that country, and (2) the impact of that ban on women and girls in that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to raise with the Government of Bangladesh the issue of telecommunications restrictions imposed in the Cox's Bazar refugee camps. I have raised this several times with the Bangladesh High Commissioner in London and we continue to engage through our British High Commission in Dhaka. In all of these interactions, we have requested full communications access in the camps.Good communications are critical for crisis preparedness and response, as well as for maintaining stability in the camps. These communications are also central to monitoring and delivering critical services to Rohingya communities.The restrictions limit the ability of humanitarian agencies to share information with refugee communities and each other; they also restrict the ability for the Rohingya to communicate across the camps. Women and girls are likely to be disproportionately affected by these restrictions as social norms in Rohingya communities mean they generally have less access to information than men. Ensuring that women and girls can access information on COVID-19 is especially important given their major role in caring for children, elders and sick household members.

Hong Kong: Human Rights

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter sent by United Nations Special Rapporteurs to the government of China on 19 February about violations of the human rights of healthcare workers in Hong Kong; and what representations they have made to that government about any such violations.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The allegations relating to the mistreatment and arrest of medics at demonstrations, and the misuse of teargas and other hazardous substances, are serious. We expect the Hong Kong authorities to abide by international humanitarian norms and laws. We have consistently made clear our view that there should be a robust, independent inquiry into events in Hong Kong, including in a recent statement at the UN Human Rights Council. Such an inquiry should consider allegations such as those referenced by the Special Rapporteurs.We frequently raise issues of concern with senior figures in the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments, and discuss the situation in Hong Kong with our international partners, and will continue to do so. The Foreign Secretary has set out his concerns about the situation in Hong Kong directly to both the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam and to the Chinese Foreign Minister, State Councillor Wang Yi.

Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that there is adequate civil society consultation and involvement in the upcoming Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government how civil society views will be included in the outcome of the upcoming Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether civil society in the focus countries of the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2018–22will be consulted as part of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development will incorporate equality into the upcoming Integrated Reviewof Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (2) the Ministry of Defence and (3) the Department for International Development, will ensure that all equalities, including gender equality, are included in the outputs and policy of theIntegrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy; and if so, how.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Following the Chancellor's announcement that the Comprehensive Spending Review is being delayed, the Integrated Review has been paused given the pressing need to focus on COVID-19. We will return to the Integrated Review when appropriate to do so, ensuring that we engage with all relevant stakeholders.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government what scientific advice they have received to explain the flattening of the growth trend of newly reported cases of COVID-19 (1) in Japan, (2) in South Korea, and (3) in China.

lord bethell: The Government is monitoring the development of the COVID-19 outbreak around the world, including in Japan, China and South Korea, and international evidence has been used alongside a wide range of other intelligence to inform the United Kingdom response. Lessons learned from other countries on what worked well in certain situations, for example social distancing measures, can be useful for the Government to consider as we form policies. The Government Office for Science is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, Cabinet Office and other departments to ensure the latest evidence on the international outbreak and response is scientifically sound and the conclusions drawn are robust.

Coronavirus: Pneumonia

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 21 April (HL2602), why they have not been in contact with the National Cancer Institute Pascale Foundation or the Colli Hospital in Italy to assess the potential outcomes of the use of Tocilizumab to treat patients with COVID-19 related pneumonia; how they are monitoring “the results of trials of experimental therapies for COVID-19 from around the world”; what discussions they plan to have with the National Cancer Institute Pascale Foundation, and the Colli Hospital in Italy as part of that monitoring; whether the United Kingdom Therapeutics Task Force will report on its findings of its assessment of tocilizumab; and if so, when.

lord bethell: Tocilizumab has begun evaluation in the United Kingdom as part of the RECOVERY and REMAP-CAP studies. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is in regular contact with sponsors and trial investigators to review clinical trials, offer scientific and regulatory advice on clinical trials and encourage early submission of emerging data though facilitated licensing routes. Emerging results from global trials will be taken into consideration by the MHRA during authorisation of UK clinical trials and to inform any amendments needed to ongoing trials. The Government recognises the importance of collaborating effectively to combat COVID-19, and the UK is meeting regularly with other countries both bilaterally and multilaterally to share information on a variety of subjects including clinical trials. Working with partners across the health and care system, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is supporting the identification, prioritisation and delivery of high quality COVID-19 research, a key element of the Government’s overall response. As part of this work, the NIHR Innovation Observatory is monitoring the progress of trials taking place across the world. The Therapeutics Taskforce has not been in direct contact with the National Cancer Institute Pascale Foundation or the Colli Hospital in Italy.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what the term “let it run hot” means in relation to COVID-19; and what plans they have to publish the evidence base for behind the use of that phrase.

lord bethell: We are not aware of the use of the term 'let it run hot' being used in relation to COVID-19 by the Department.

Air Pollution: Coronavirus

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of air quality on the exacerbation of COVID-19 symptoms.

lord bethell: There is no clear evidence yet to suggest that air pollution has a direct link to the spread or severity of COVID-19.Public Health England and other Government departments are reviewing and considering factors such as air pollution which may influence the health impact of COVID-19. This includes assessing whether there is any evidence of an association between exposure of particulates and COVID-19 mortality in the United Kingdom. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ independent Air Quality Expert Group has launched a call for evidence to assess the impact of the pandemic on air quality issues.

Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups

baroness lawrence of clarendon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that a higher proportion of black, Asian and minority ethnic people are dying as a result of COVID-19 than people of other ethnicities; whether they have now established an inquiry into the issue; and if so, what that inquiry has discovered to date.

lord bethell: We are very concerned by the apparent disproportionate number of people from minority ethnic backgrounds who have died, both within the National Health Service and overall. We have asked Public Health England (PHE) to complete a rapid review to understand how COVID-19 may be having an impact on different ethnic groups, and other groups of concern. PHE has begun linking thousands of existing health records for people who have had COVID-19 in order to gather more robust data.To complement this rapid review by Public Health England, the National Institute for Health Research and UK Research and Innovation issued a joint call on 22 April for research proposals to investigate emerging evidence of an association between ethnicity and COVID-19 incidence and adverse health outcomes.

Coronavirus: Legislation

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether COVID-19 related legislation will be revoked once the pandemic is over or when such legislation is no longer reasonably required.

lord bethell: The Government have consistently made it clear over the course of our response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and during debates in both Houses on the recent Coronavirus Act 2020, that we will take all measures necessary to protect the public’s health, and that in doing so we will act proportionately and with due regard for the rights of the individual. These measures are therefore intended to be temporary, and the legislation contains many safeguards to ensure that its provisions are in force for only as long as they need to be.Some measures, for example indemnities for National Health Service employees, will of necessity remain in force after the outbreak is over, but wherever possible we will ensure that we remove any burdens on individuals and on society as soon as the science tell us that we can.

Protective Clothing: Procurement

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made to secure personal protective equipment for health professionals from small and medium-sized businesses based in the United Kingdom.

lord bethell: As part of the national effort to focus the United Kingdom’s manufacturing industry on this immediate challenge, the Government has issued a ‘call to arms’ for industry partners and other manufacturers to make essential personal protective equipment (PPE) that demonstrably meets required specifications for use by the National Health Service and care sector.Each offer from industry is being followed up with checks on the organisation making the offer and technical checks on the safety and effectiveness of the products on offer before they are purchased for use within the NHS and care sector. The large number of offers means that it has been taking some time to respond. This is because we have a rigorous process in place and are checking at every step to ensure that the offers meet our safety requirements.Lord Deighton will lead the national effort to boost UK PPE production and also support the scaling up of engineering efforts for small companies capable of contributing to supplies.

Health Professions: Protective Clothing

baroness doocey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their guidelines on personal protective equipment for frontline medical staff are (1)based on expert medical advice and evidence or (2) also based on economic or other factors.

lord bethell: The guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health and social care workers is based on expert reviews and advice from the Department’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) as well as literature reviews by Health Protection Scotland. The guidance is updated regularly, in line with emerging evidence.Public Health England has not undertaken an economic assessment of the PPE guidance.

Ethnic Groups: Coronavirus

baroness doocey: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they started to (1) collect, and (2) publish data relating to the ethnicity of those infected with COVID-19; and for what reasons this did not start at the beginning of the pandemic in the UK.

lord bethell: Data on those infected with COVID-19 are collected by Public Health England (PHE) for new diagnoses and hospitalised patients. Standard recording practice across laboratory systems requires recording of only minimal data (such as date of birth and name) as these records are not intended for disease surveillance purposes.PHE has begun a rapid review to better understand how COVID-19 may be having an impact on different ethnic groups. As part of this review, PHE is matching thousands of laboratory records of COVID-19 cases to other health records to draw down accurate data on ethnicity, age, sex and geographical region. The first results will be published by the end of May.

Coronavirus: Hospitals

baroness pinnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatplans they have to use the NHS Nightingale Hospitals for the admission of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms to prevent the deaths of people in their own homes or in community settings.

lord bethell: The Nightingale Hospitals have been established to build extra capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic and help local hospitals ensure that all those who need care can get it.Over the coming months the Nightingale Hospitals will continue to have a role to play in supporting the National Health Service. This will be based on decisions by local clinical leaders on what will best complement other care available in the region to meet the needs of their communities.

Coronavirus

lord selkirk of douglas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) undertake, or (2) take part in, an international inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 and its global spread.

lord bethell: The World Health Organization (WHO) has an important role to play in leading the global health response. We want to see the WHO continue to learn lessons on how to improve its response to global health emergencies and as such would expect a full review of all elements of their response to COVID-19 to take place once they are out of response mode, as has occurred after previous Public Health Emergencies of International Concern. The United Kingdom intends to engage constructively with a future review.

Cancer and Heart Diseases: Coronavirus

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure cancer and heart disease patients are able to access hospital treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The National Health Service has continued to provide urgent and emergency services throughout the outbreak and has run the ‘Open for Business’ media campaign to encourage people with potentially serious health issues to continue to seek medical advice, particularly those with symptoms of cancer, heart attack and stroke.NHS trusts and Cancer Alliances are working to identify ring-fenced diagnostic and surgical capacity for cancer so that they can deliver cancer surgery and treatment at cancer hubs, which have been set up to treat patients in non-COVID-19 environments. Full use is also being made of independent sector hospital and diagnostic capacity.Referrals for cancer treatment from general practitioners (GPs) to hospital continue to go ahead and the NHS is working hard to increase these to pre-COVID-19 levels.To ensure patients with heart disease are given the care they need, hospitals are prioritising capacity for cardiac surgery, cardiology services and neuroradiology. Secondary care is prioritised for patients with heart failure, valve disease and arrhythmia services.Further cardiac and stroke services continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 response and GPs continue to refer into these services.

Epilepsy: Cannabis

baroness walmsley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to fund private prescriptions for whole plant cannabis pharmaceutical medicines for children with severe drug resistant epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The costs of medicines associated with treatment sought privately remain the responsibility of patients. No additional public funding is being provided beyond the financial package to provide additional support for public services, individuals and businesses experiencing financial difficulties during COVID-19.The latest National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines demonstrate a clear need for more evidence to support routine prescribing and funding decisions for unlicensed cannabis-based medicines on the National Health Service, and we are working hard with the health system, industry and researchers to improve the knowledge base.

Coronavirus: Disinfectants

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suggestion by the President of the United States of America that injecting or ingesting disinfectant might be a cure for COVID-19; and what scientific advice they have received about the impact such treatment would have on patients so treated.

lord bethell: No assessment has been made.

Cancer: Surgery

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many operations for cases of cancer have been cancelled in England since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: Information on operations for cases of cancer cancelled in England since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is not held centrally.

Disease Control: EU Action

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK has continued membership of the EU’s Early Warning and Response System for pandemics.

lord bethell: Infectious diseases such as COVID-19 do not respect borders and we are working closely with the European Union, European countries and global partners to tackle this global pandemic. The United Kingdom continues to access all EU health security alerting systems, databases and networks during the transition period, including the EU’s Early Warning and Response System (EWRS). We continue to use the EWRS system as part of our response to the pandemic, to share information with the EU and Member States relating to COVID-19. Our responses will continue to benefit from this international cooperation, and we are committed to continuing to work with countries and partners from all across the world, as we move into future stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Department for Education

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic related school closures and social distancing measures on those with identified special educational needs but who do not have an Education Health and Care Plans.

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of support to children with dyslexia, autism and other neuro diverse conditions who are undergoing education at home.

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice and guidance they have provided to parents of children who do not qualify for school attendance and who have dyslexia, autism and other neuro diverse conditions about how to support those children successfully at home; whether such guidance is published; and if so, where.

baroness berridge: We have published guidance on supporting vulnerable children and young people at this time:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people.We have also published guidance on how risk assessments should be carried out for children with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-send-risk-assessment-guidance.This guidance sets out the practicalities for local authorities and other providers in undertaking risk assessments for vulnerable children and young people with EHC plans, in light of school and college closures. Schools remain open to the vulnerable, and children in care and local authority Virtual School Heads are actively tailoring their expert offer of advice and support to the current circumstances. This includes the provision of additional resources such as online learning – in addition to our offer of laptops and tablets – and support for carers where children are unable to attend school. We are asking local authorities to work with educational providers, families and the child or young person to carry out a risk assessment to judge whether the child or young person’s needs cannot be met safely at home. Where the risk assessment determines a child or young person with an EHC plan will be as safe or safer at an educational setting, it may be more appropriate for them to attend the educational setting.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Disabled Students' Allowances

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those applying for Disabled Students Allowance who need formal diagnosis, normally provided through one-to-one assessments, will have that Allowance in place before the start of the next academic year.

baroness berridge: The Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) published revised guidance on diagnostic assessments on 4 May 2020. The department is working with the Student Loans Company on how best to take account of the revised guidance in administering Disabled Students Allowances, and will communicate the approach to stakeholders shortly.

Students: Broadband and Computers

baroness manzoor: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide all secondary school students with laptops and broadband routers; and what criteria they use to determine which students should receive any such provision.

baroness berridge: The government will provide devices for the most disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for exams (in Year 10), receive support from a social worker or are a care leaver. Local authorities, trusts and other relevant organisations overseeing schools will be given guidance on how to place online orders for government-funded and allocated devices. We recognise that local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and prioritise children and young people who need devices.Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school or children in Year 10 do not have internet connections, we will also provide the capability for them to access the internet. 16 to 19-year-olds without a suitable device will be eligible for support via the 16-19 Bursary Fund.Additionally, the country’s major telecommunication providers will make it easier for families to access selected educational resources by temporarily exempting these sites from data charges.For those in rural areas or without a connection, schools will be able to draw on support from the BBC which is broadcasting lessons on television; and may choose to draw on the many resources offers which have been made by publishers across the country.

Teachers: Coronavirus

baroness benjamin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidelines they have given to headteachers in order to protect teachers from COVID-19.

baroness benjamin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the safety of teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: The school workforce is central to the country’s response to COVID-19 and we thank them wholeheartedly for their support at this difficult time.It is important to underline that schools remain safe places. Reducing the number of children and staff making the journey to school and reducing the number of children and staff in educational settings will protect the NHS and save lives by reducing the risks of spreading the virus.We have published guidance for school leaders and staff on COVID-19 infection prevention and control in educational settings, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19.Guidelines on implementing social distancing in schools are available at: ttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings.We have also published guidance on the actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak which includes guidelines for school leaders on protecting the school workforce from COVID-19. This guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closing.Additionally, the Government has expanded its testing scheme to all essential workers. This includes anyone involved in education, childcare or social work – including both public and voluntary sector workers, as well as foster carers. If they or anyone in their household have symptoms, they are now eligible for a test to confirm whether they have COVID-19, so that if they don’t, the critical worker is able to get back into the workplace.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Universities: Coronavirus

lord cormack: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide financial assistance to UK universities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: The government has announced a UK-wide range of support, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and various business support packages to assist businesses whose viability is threatened by the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme and COVID Corporate Financing Facility. Higher education providers that meet the published criteria for the loan and financing schemes should approach their bank and begin to apply for the relevant scheme, if they think that they need that support.We are working closely with higher education providers and the Office for Students (OfS), as the regulator for the higher education sector in England, to ensure that we maintain an up-to-date understanding of the financial risks and implications COVID-19 is bringing to bear on the sector. OfS has stated that one of its key priorities during the pandemic is to support the financial sustainability of the sector. Providers with concerns about their financial viability or sustainability have been encouraged to contact OfS at the earliest opportunity.

Ministry of Justice

Remand in Custody

lord german: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been remanded in custody in England and Wales in each month of 2020 to date.

lord keen of elie: The requested data is not available at this time. Court data up to the year ending December 2019 is due to be published in May 2020, and data for the year ending December 2020 is planned for publication in May 2021. Prison receptions data covering January to March 2020 is planned for publication in July 2020 and data covering April to June 2020 is planned for publication in October 2020.

Sentencing

lord german: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were sentenced to a prison term of six months or less in each month of 2020 to date.

lord keen of elie: The requested data is not available at this time. Data on custodial sentences up to December 2018 has been published. Data for the years ending December 2019 and December 2020 is due to be published in May 2020 and May 2021 respectively.

Prisoners: Mobile Phones

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the opportunity for a prisoner to use a mobile telephone is determined by their good conduct; and what assessment they have made of the impact of mobile telephone usage on preventing the breakup of families in the absence of visits.

lord keen of elie: In recognition of the importance of continued contact with family and to ensure stability in our jails the Government has moved quickly to keep prisoners in touch with their family members by the introduction of 900 secure mobile PIN phones for those prisons which do not already have in-cell telephony. These are in addition to, but operate in the same way, as wing PIN phones which remain in use. Behaviour is not part of the formal risk assessment for the allocation of mobile telephones for prisoners’ use. Access to the locked mobile PIN phones is given following completion of a risk assessment, for those deemed to represent the greatest risk to the public and require additional safeguards approval must be given by the Governing Governor. There has been no recent assessment of the impact of mobile PIN telephone use on families in the absence of visits. However, Lord Farmer’s Report in June 2019, “The Importance of Strengthening Female Offenders' Family and other Relationships to Prevent Reoffending and Reduce Intergenerational Crime” shows that facilitating regular family contact can reduce a prisoners’ likelihood of reoffending by 39%. Family members are also able to contact the National Prisoners’ Families helpline or the prison’s safer custody line if they have individual concerns.

Treasury

Business Premises: Rents

lord allen of kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposals for a Furloughed Space Grant Scheme, put forward by the British Retail Consortium and the British Property Federation; and what plans they have, if any, to implement such a scheme.

lord agnew of oulton: In this difficult period, the government is making sure that people and businesses have access to the support they need as quickly as possible. That is why the Government has announced unprecedented support to protect against the current economic emergency, including immediate steps to give businesses access to cash to pay its rent, salaries or suppliers. Alongside this, the Government has also taken temporary steps to protect commercial tenants from eviction as well as to safeguard UK high streets against aggressive debt recovery actions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Business: Coronavirus

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of insurance companies refusing to pay claims from customers for business interruption on the grounds that the restrictions introduced by the Government to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic invalidated customers’ policies.

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with insurance companies that are refusing to pay claims to customers as a result of the restrictions introduced by the Government to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord agnew of oulton: For those businesses which have an appropriate policy that covers government ordered closure and unspecified notifiable diseases, the Government’s social distancing instructions are sufficient to allow businesses to make a claim against their insurance, provided the other terms and conditions in their policy are met.However, it is important to note that most businesses have not purchased insurance that covers losses from unspecified notifiable diseases, such as COVID-19. Insurance policies differ significantly, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their providers. Some policies cover losses arising from any disease classed as notifiable by the Government, however, most policies only cover a specific list of notifiable diseases. The terms of a policy cannot be changed retrospectively.The Government recognises that businesses who do not have appropriate insurance cover will require support from elsewhere. The Government encourages businesses to seek assistance through the wider support package if they are in financial difficulty. Businesses should explore the full package of support set out by the Chancellor in recent weeks, which includes measures such as business rates holidays, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and wage support.

Taxation: Self-assessment

lord o'shaughnessy: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of people in each local authority who completed a self-assessment between the 1990–91 and the 2018–19 tax years declared a charitable donation of any form.

lord agnew of oulton: In 2017-18, the most recent tax year for which figures are available, 12% of individuals in the UK completing a Self Assessment form declared a donation to charity. UK figures for 2007-08 to 2017-18 are published in Table 5 of HMRC’s annual Charity Tax Relief Statistics, and figures for the most recent year are published by region and by Parliamentary Constituency in Table 7. The information requested for each local authority for the period 1990-91 to 2018-19 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fly-tipping: Coronavirus

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to recommending the re-opening waste and recycling centres to alleviate the increased incidence of fly-tipping on agricultural land.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. We are aware of reports of an increase in fly-tipping and that, anecdotally, this may be a result of the closure of household waste recycling centres. However, this does not appear to be consistent across the country. It is legal for household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs) to remain open during the Coronavirus pandemic. However, we know that some local authorities are finding this challenging, which is why on 5 May Defra published some guidance to help local authorities do this. We worked with industry, local authorities and other Government departments, including Public Health England, on developing the guidance which includes a section on workforce safety. The key principle of the guidance is that human health must be protected while maintaining safe systems of working. Social distancing must also be observed by both staff and visitors to HWRCs wherever possible. The guidance makes it clear that residents must only visit HWRCs if they cannot store safely at home the items they wish to dispose of. The guidance was published this week after close consultation with the police. The guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-to-local-authorities-on-prioritising-waste-collections/managing-household-waste-and-recycling-centres-hwrcs-in-england-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage more flexible and part-time seasonal employment on farms in order to encourage more British workers to apply for the vacancies.

lord gardiner of kimble: We know how important seasonal workers are to our farmers and we are aware of the impact that restrictions on travel from other countries, as a result of Covid-19, is having on the number of seasonal workers coming to work in the UK. We need to mobilise the British workforce to fill that gap and make sure our excellent fruit and vegetables are on people's plates over the summer months. The Pick for Britain (PfB) website is a recently launched joint Defra and industry initiative to support this effort. The website acts as a central hub to signpost people to the jobs available. It provides guidance and resources so growers, workers and industry can have a single place to go, available at https://pickforbritain.org.uk/. The website also provides links to a wide range of recruitment campaigns organised by labour providers. The PfB website includes links to the Government’s ‘Find A Job’ website, giving access to a wide reach of potential applicants. The Find a Job website has more than 1.6 million registered users and is available here: https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/. Our farmers are doing a fantastic job of feeding the nation during this challenging time. To help our farmers, industry Best Practice Guidance for employers of seasonal agricultural workers to avoid the spread of coronavirus has also now been published, which has been endorsed by Public Health England: https://ahdb.org.uk/coronavirus/social-distancing-farm-businesses.

Food: Imports

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that supplies of imported food are not delayed at UK ports.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK is working with national governments across the globe to ensure supply chains remain open and businesses have access to the information they need to keep goods moving. We have been monitoring the impacts of the coronavirus on supply chains from as many sources as possible, including our ongoing dialogue with business. Defra and the Food Standards Agency have been developing a range of temporary easements for application in the UK for both intra-EU movements and third country imports to ensure that trade continues to flow during the Covid-19 outbreak. We consider that these temporary measures will not compromise biosecurity and public health. Separately, the European Commission has adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 that provides a number of discretionary, temporary official control easements, some of which overlap with the ones we have been developing. We have written to Border Control Posts to confirm the temporary easements that can be put in place, and will keep these under review to ensure that trade continues without compromising biosecurity and public health.

Home Office

Asylum: Interviews

baroness doocey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in using conducting asylum interviews and other procedures at Asylum Screening Units through remote means; and how many cases have been processed remotely.

baroness williams of trafford: We take the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously and we are adjusting processes and procedures to ensure asylum claims can be registered in a safe way that adheres to social distancing guidance – with in person contact and travel requirements for the asylum registration process being minimised.Asylum in the UK should continue to be sought at the first available opportunity, however for those who have failed to claim on arrival, or whose circumstances have changed since arrival the Home Office has temporarily introduced additional locations to register claims. These are temporary arrangements which will be kept under review to align with HMG guidance.An overview of key changes and messages are outlined below. Locations have been identified across the UK to facilitate this. The AIU in Croydon will continue to function as normal but will additionally be supported by limited operations in Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, Leeds, Solihull and Cardiff. These will be to meet the demands of asylum registrations within the geographical area and will not operate a 5-day service. These changes do not represent a new operating model. They are contingency measures put in place during the COVID-19 epidemic in order to fulfil the UKs statutory requirement to register asylum claims. Following guidance from Public Health England, we have cancelled all face-to-face substantive asylum interviews. We are continuing to explore ways to conduct interviews over video link.

Immigrants: Detainees

lord german: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were held in immigration detention centres in each month of 2020 to date.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office publishes data on people in detention in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-releaseData on the number of people detained under immigration powers at the end of each quarter are published in table Det_D02 of the immigration detention detailed datasets. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/returns-and-detention-datasets#immigration-detentionInformation on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to those in detention as at 31 December 2019. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the 'summary tables'. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on detention.Figures covering the first quarter of 2020, including those detained as at 31 March 2020 will be released on 21st May 2020. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/returns-and-detention-datasets#immigration-detention



copy of detention summary tables 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 74.94 KB)

Asylum: Housing

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Home Office and its contracted providers have made a public health assessment of asylum accommodation in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office has been working with a Public Health England embed during the current crisis and we have put in place a number of measures to support people in the asylum system who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including working closely with providers to make sure the most vulnerable people within the system receive the support they need.The Accommodation providers recognise the challenge of managing COVID 19 within our accommodation estate and are working closely with Public Health England (PHE) on how their guidance on social distancing and self-isolation is properly applied, while ensuring that people can continue to access essential services.In Initial Accommodation facilities, which tends to be hostel based, PHE Guidance recommends that separate rooms and segregation be provided for symptomatic people, or they should be moved to hotels. Our providers have configured their accommodation estate to meet this guidance.In Dispersed Accommodation, which is houses or homes of multiple occupancy accommodating small numbers, Service Users have been provided guidance to ensure they socially distance or self isolate in line with the advice provided to the general public. Additionally, services providers have enhanced their contact management and wraparound services to ensure access to medical care, food packages and other essential items.

Asylum: Coronavirus

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures asylum accommodation providers have made to ensure that people seeking asylum are able to follow the Government’s guidance on social distancing and staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office has been working with a Public Health England embed during the current crisis and we have put in place a number of measures to support people in the asylum system who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including working closely with providers to make sure the most vulnerable people within the system receive the support they need.The Accommodation providers recognise the challenge of managing COVID 19 within our accommodation estate and are working closely with Public Health England (PHE) on how their guidance on social distancing and self-isolation is properly applied, while ensuring that people can continue to access essential services.In Initial Accommodation facilities, which tends to be hostel based, PHE Guidance recommends that separate rooms and segregation be provided for symptomatic people, or they should be moved to hotels. Our providers have configured their accommodation estate to meet this guidance.In Dispersed Accommodation, which is houses or homes of multiple occupancy accommodating small numbers, Service Users have been provided guidance to ensure they socially distance or self isolate in line with the advice provided to the general public. Additionally, services providers have enhanced their contact management and wraparound services to ensure access to medical care, food packages and other essential items.

Detention Centres: Coronavirus

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of Immigration Removal Centres in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular (1) how many detainees have been released from detention since 23 March; (2) how many detainees remain in detention; (3) whether any asylum seekers have been placed in detention since 23 March, and if so how many; and (4) what measures have been taken to shield detainees and to maintain social distancing both for detainees and staff.

baroness williams of trafford: The safety and health of those in immigration removal centres is of the utmost importance but we remain committed to removing foreign national offenders or those who violate our immigration rules. Detention plays a key role in securing our borders and maintaining effective immigration control.There is a general presumption of liberty for all individuals. Detention is used only when necessary, and decisions to detain an individual are made on a case by case basis and are based on all of the information known at the time of the review. As circumstances of the case change, detention is reviewed in light of these changes and release may then become appropriate.There is no-one currently detained and going through the Detained Asylum Casework process. The majority of asylum claims are processed in the non-detained system, with claimants living in the community. Only a minority of claimants are detained whilst their claim is considered and almost all of those who have their claim considered in detention only claim asylum after being detained for removal. Asylum claims in detention are considered in accordance with published detention guidance, incorporating the policy on safeguarding adults at risk.The Home Office is following all Public Health England guidance and have robust contingency plans in place including measures such as protective isolation to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the immigration detention estate. Further measures including shielding, single occupancy rooms and the cessation of social visits have been introduced in line with the Government direction on social distancing.The Home Office publishes data on people leaving and in detention in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of people detained under immigration powers at the end of each quarter are published in table Det_D02 and of those leaving detention are published in table Det_D03 of the immigration detention detailed datasets.Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to those in detention as at 31 December 2019. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the 'summary tables'. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on detention.Figures covering the first quarter of 2020, including those detained as at 31 March 2020 will be released on 21st May 2020. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Asylum: Coronavirus

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that asylum seekers and people who do not have a settled immigration status are encouraged to seek medical assistance as appropriate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office has been working with a Public Health England embed during the current crisis and we have put in place a number of measures to support people in the asylum system who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including working closely with providers to make sure the most vulnerable people within the system receive the support they need.Those currently accommodated within our support accommodation can receive advice and have access to our Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) provider, Migrant Help. They can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day on a freephone number if they need assistance or guidance. AIRE are working closely with the Home Office’s Asylum Safeguarding Hub.All asylum accommodation providers continue to provide translated public health guidance, available in 12 languages, and instructions to service users and we are looking at options to provide a level of internet access across our Initial Accommodation estate.

Undocumented Migrants

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants they have intercepted travelling to the UK, whether on land or at sea, in each of the last 24 months.

baroness williams of trafford: We do not routinely publish the information you have requested, we are unable to provide this information, as it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Free Movement of People: Nurses

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to change their freedom of movement policy for nurses, resident outside of the UK, who have contributed to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has announced, for NHS doctors, nurses and paramedics, whose visa will expire before 1 October, we will extend their visa for 12 months. This offer also applies to their families. The extension is automatic and free of charge and those benefitting will not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.We keep all of our policies under review and are continuing to consider how we can best support the NHS and its staff during the current pandemic.

Northern Ireland Office

Trade: Northern Ireland

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) financial, and (2) other, support they intend to provide to businesses to assist with (a) customs, (b) animal, and (c) public health, requirements relating to the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

viscount younger of leckie: We are considering the best way to implement the Protocol and will be discussing this with the EU in the Joint Committee and Specialised Committee created under the Withdrawal Agreement. We want to work with Northern Ireland businesses and the Executive to ensure any procedures are streamlined and do not affect the flow of trade.

Borders: Northern Ireland

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the benefits of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland are protected, and in particular the movement of goods in the island of Ireland.

viscount younger of leckie: The Protocol ensures that there will be no hard border with Ireland and that Northern Ireland will continue to have full access to the EU Single Market for goods. On 30 April, the first meeting of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee was held via video conference, co-chaired by officials from the UK Government and European Commission. A representative from the Northern Ireland Executive attended as part of the UK delegation in line with the commitment made in the New Decade, New Approach deal. The UK was clear that our approach at all times will be focused on protecting the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and gains of the peace process, and on preserving Northern Ireland’s place in the UK consistent with the principle of consent.

Department for International Trade

Arms Trade: League of Arab States

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many licenceswere granted for the export of military equipment to each member state of the Arab League in each of the last five years for which records are available.

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many licenceswere granted for the export of military equipment to each EU member state in each of the last five years for which records are available.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences on GOV.UK. The number of licences granted for the export of military equipment to each of the countries in each of the last five years is attached.  



Export licences for export of military equipment
(Word Document, 20.48 KB)

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Sports and Voluntary Organisations: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what comprehensive guidance they have provided tovoluntary and sporting organisations which operate buildings and other facilities in respect of outlining the support available throughout theCOVID-19 pandemic; and where any such guidance is published.

baroness barran: The Government has announced a number of support packages for voluntary and sporting organisations, who have been impacted by Covid-19. For sport, this includes Sport England’s announcement of a £195m package of support for the grassroots sport and physical activity sector, including a £20m Community Emergency Fund (CEF) to support those organisations that are suffering from immediate financial hardship. The CEF includes support for organisations which operate facilities and which require specific support to meet fixed and other costs relating to buildings. Further details are available here: https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/coronavirus/coronavirus-funding-and-flexibility. For the voluntary sector, this has included the Government distributing £310m via the National Lottery Community Fund to support voluntary organisations most affected by Covid-19 as part of the wider £750m Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise funding package announced by the Chancellor.These packages are in addition to the wider HM Treasury support packages, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Business Interruption loan, both of which the sport and voluntary sector are eligible for. Full details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Press Freedom

lord foulkes of cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, what assessment they have made of threats posed to press freedom (1) globally, and (2) domestically; and what plans they have to (a) establish a national committee, and (b) develop an national action plan, for the safety of journalists.

baroness barran: The Global Index, released by Reporters Without Borders on 21 April, showed press freedom improved very slightly around the world in 2019. While this is welcome news, the threat to free media remains very concerning, and the overall trend is downwards. There has been a rise in the suppression of media freedom by authoritarian regimes. Online threats to journalists have also increased, including through governments imposing blanket shut-downs and misinformation being used to target journalists. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated an already alarming situation. There are examples of states introducing disproportionate restrictions, silencing debate and abusing journalists. Some states and non-state actors are seizing the chance to propagate disinformation. Funding and advertising revenue has been significantly reduced, causing publications to close and journalists to be laid off. Without action, much of the media on which our democratic systems and values depend risks becoming another victim of the pandemic. The UK press is among the most respected and free in the world. The government recognises press freedom is fundamental to a healthy democracy and strongly supports it. We are working to support a sustainable future for quality journalism in the UK through the government’s response to the Cairncross Review, so that it can continue to hold government and others to account. These efforts have increased as we work to support the continued provision of news through the COVID-19 crisis. The government has ensured that the press is able to carry out their essential function at this critical time, designating them as key workers for the purpose of access to educational places, and making sure that newspaper deliveries can continue. The Government has also maximised the advertising we are placing in national and regional newspapers at this critical period, in order to use their powerful, familiar voices and reach on the government’s COVID-19 public information campaign. The government has previously announced its intention to convene a National Committee and devise a National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists. We remain committed to this goal.

Public Service Broadcasting: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a compulsory requirement for broadcasters to include a public service component in their programming following the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: The Government recognises that broadcasting has an important role to play for UK audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) have played a vital role during the pandemic, acting as sources of trusted news, entertaining and informing the UK population and bringing the nation together through shared moments. Under the Communications Act 2003 Ofcom has a statutory obligation to periodically review the effectiveness of public service television broadcasting and to report on how it can be maintained and strengthened. The Government welcomes that Ofcom’s current PSB Review will bring together evidence not only about the main PSB services but also the range of media services available to consumers in the UK. The government looks forward to the outcome of the review in due course.

VE Day: Anniversaries

lord cormack: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the second world war in August, following the cancellation of events to mark that anniversary of VE Day on 8 May.

baroness barran: The UK Government continues to plan a programme to mark the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day on 15 August, commemorating the Victory Over Japan and the end of the Second World War. In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, HM Government will continue to follow the advice issued by Public Health England closely and the VJ Day 75 programme will take account of the guidance in place at the time. Information on what is planned to commemorate VE Day can be find online: https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/ Her Majesty The Queen will send a message to the nation on Friday 8 May. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will read an extract from King George VI’s diary from 1945. Members of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister and the Culture Secretary will take part in video calls with Second World War veterans. Churchill’s famous victory speech will be broadcast and a national two minute silence will take place as the public are asked to mark the occasion at home.

Rugby: Finance

lord hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatfinancial support they intend to provide to ensure the long-term future of Rugby League.

baroness barran: The Government announced on 30 April that the Rugby Football League (RFL) will receive a £16 million cash injection to safeguard the immediate future of the sport for the communities it serves. This emergency loan will help the sport deal with the extreme financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak while the season remains suspended, due to social distancing measures. It comes ahead of England hosting the Rugby League World Cup next year, which will see the men's, women's and wheelchair games come together for a world first on the sport's biggest stage. The Government’s manifesto included a commitment to delivering a successful tournament, with significant financial support already provided.

Golf

lord kirkhope of harrogate: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow golf courses and golf facilities to re-open, subject to safeguards.

baroness barran: Golf courses along with other sports facilities remain closed at this time in line with the government's clear message to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. The government is in regular contact with stakeholders across the sport and physical activity sector and will continue to provide advice as and when there are any changes to the current guidance. The Government’s position is led by our medical experts and the key priority is to protect people’s health, Despite the current restrictions, it is vitally important that we keep the nation active, which is why a person can leave the house for one form of exercise a day; for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of their household.

Data Protection: Coronavirus

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, to help protect the privacy of the public in using the proposed COVID-19 tracking app, they plan to bring into force immediately sections 77 and 78 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which would allow a maximum custodial sentence of two years for those convicted of unlawfully obtaining and selling personal data.

baroness barran: Existing law and NHS standards set out a framework of protective measures to ensure the app is legally compliant and meets the standards expected to keep data secure and confidential. This includes GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Common Law Duty of Confidentiality in cases where data is provided that might identify an individual. The data protection legislation provides the Information Commissioner with a range of enforcement powers to ensure organisations comply. As well as significant financial penalties for non-compliance, the 2018 Act includes a range of criminal offences for the very worst breaches of the legislation. This includes the offences of unlawfully obtaining data and re-identifying personal data that has been pseudonymised without lawful excuse. We are satisfied this provides a comprehensive framework and have no plans to increase the maximum penalties of any offences under the Act. Sections 77 and 78 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 related to the historic offence of unlawfully obtaining personal data under section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998. That offence and the relevant provisions in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act were repealed by the Data Protection Act 2018.